Planning - Set Design Pieces

     Having created my mood boards, I now know what I want the three different sets in my film to look like. To bring this vision to life, I decided to explore the different objects that are located in my two actors' bedrooms that convey the time period as well as the characters' personalities. While searching, I came across numerous items that caught my eye, and I definitely want to integrate them into my film opening. 

Set Pieces: 

    Since my film illustrates the parallel lives of my characters, I wanted to highlight the differences between the characters' bedrooms as well as their daily routines. To do this, I focused on finding pieces that fit my female characters' clean-messy-chaotic aesthetic, while also finding pieces that fit my male characters' minimalistic but hyper-organized aesthetic. The items that I found include:

Overflowing Makeup Bag: 

                                 

                      

    An overflowing makeup bag is the perfect visual cue to establish Sophia's "curated chaos" the moment the film starts. An explosion of makeup brushes, lipsticks, mascara, and stranded hair clips suggests a life that is quick-paced, vibrant, and unapologetically lived-in. This single prop functions as a personal snapshot, contributing to a raw, unfiltered look at her expressive energy before she even steps foot out of her room. By highlighting this specific "mess," I can show the viewers that her character values personal flair and authentic living over rigid order.  

Bedside Table: 

                               

    To emphasize the contrast between the two characters, the opening scene of my film focuses on the different landscapes of their bedside tables as they wake up. Sophia's bedside table has three different layers, all crowded with random items such as flowers, a stray candle, books, ring holder, etc. On the other hand, Asher's bedside table will illustrate his very simple personality and lifestyle, having only his phone and watch placed on it. While this detail only appears briefly, it functions as a powerful visual cue that instantly establishes just how different their worlds truly are. 

A Purse: 

                              

    Although this purse is more of a costume design element than set design, I think it will be a perfect illustration of how Sophia follows the trends of modern-day accessories. By incorporating a trendy it-bag style, I can show that her curated chaos is ingrained in a contemporary, fashion-forward aesthetic. The bag serves as a status symbol that secures her character in the present moment. I plan on having Sophia grab and use this purse when she leaves to go to Target. This decision helps bridge her personal style with the film's overall aesthetic, verifying that even her most disorganized spaces are shaped by a calculated, modern flair. 

A Apple watch: 

    Similar to the purse, this watch is not a part of the set design, however it serves as a critical extension of Asher's disciplined environment. In a world where he clears away every unnecessary distraction, the watch represents his distinct routine and fixation with punctuality. In the film, the watch will be perfectly placed on his bedside table, allowing him to wake up and immediately put it on. It supports the idea that unlike Sophia, who moves with the flow of the moment, Asher consistently wears a watch to manage and measure time. 

Wallet and Keys:

    The use of the wallet and keys being carefully set on a table serves as an important visual cue for Asher's need for sequential order and predictability. By containing these everyday essentials within a particular location, the set design shows that he has a "home" for all of his objects, removing the friction of a panicked morning search. This tiny, deliberate detail emphasizes his disciplined mindset and functions as a sharp contrast to Sophia's more fluid, unscripted lifestyle, showing the viewers that his world is controlled by calculated order instead of impulse. 

Reflection: 

    Now that I have decided what all of the staple pieces for the set are going to be, I am very excited to incorporate them into my theatrical world. Seeing all of these pieces gives me a clear idea of what the setting and overall world of my film is going to look like. Although these set design items are all things that both the actors already had, I will place them in distinct and specific locations around each of their rooms which will help establish the personalities of the characters. The two costume design items will help me bring both characters to life and will help create their individual styles and vibes. All of these items have a meaning and purpose so I hope that my ideas and interpretations will come to life in my film. 

    The next task I want to complete is finalizing the locations for my film. Although I am already 100% set on utilizing my sister's room for the scene of Sophia's bedroom, I need to get permission to film in my sister's boyfriend's room for the scene of Asher's bedroom. It will be important to get his consent because if he says that I cannot film there, I will have to find another males bedroom to use. I am also going to go to the closest Target location to me so that I can make sure there is an aisle specifically for Legos, which will function as the meeting point of my two characters. 

Planning - Production Timeline

     It is essential to make a production timeline because it prevents the project from crumbling under the weight of "creative drift" by implementing strict deadlines for editing and filming. Even a short film opening needs complex coordination between sound, lighting, and talent; without a schedule, I can risk running out of time for crucial reshoots or post-production touch ups. Ultimately, it guarantees that my resources are used effectively, allowing me to focus on the storytelling instead of the stress of an impending, disorganized deadline. 

Completed Tasks: 

    February 6th - Create the project proposal for my film. 

    February 7th - Plan and finalize the first draft of my script. 

    February 8th - Decide and finalize the characters for my film as well as what their individual personalities are. 

    February 11th - Create the titles that I want to utilize in my film opening and decide where I want them to appear. 

    February 13th - Create mood boards for my two main characters and the location where they will meet. 

    February 15th - Make a production timeline so that I can see what the next few weeks are going to look like when planning and producing my film. 

Uncompleted Tasks: 

    February 26th: Decide what props I will utilize in my film as well as when and why they will be used. 

    February 28th: Create the storyboards for my film opening. Complete the planning process. 

    March 7th: Start the production process of the film. Day 1 of filming. 

    March 8th: Day 2 of filming. 

    March 10th: Create a production diary. 

    March 14th: Look for and finalize the type of music that I want to use in my film.

    March 16th - 20th: Start and finish editing my film opening. 

    March 20th: Post the final two-minute film opening brief to my blog. 

    March 22nd: Create and finalize my first CCR. 

    March 28th: Create and finalize my second CCR. 

    March 29th: Create and finalize my third CCR. 

    April 1st: Create and finalize my fourth CCR. 

Reflection: 

    After creating my production timeline I am now able to visualize everything that I still have to get done for my film opening. Having this clear schedule will prevent me from stressing last minute trying to complete the film and all of the CCR posts before or by my deadline. The next task that I want to complete is identifying what set design pieces are going to be utilized in my film. This is a crucial part of the planning process because set design pieces act as a visual shorthand for my characters' personalities and the plot's tension. 

Planning - Mood Boards

     Now that I have written the first draft of my script and finalized the characters that I am going to utilize in my film, I want to create mood boards that show the bridge between my imagination and the screen. While mood boards are displayed in a variety of forms, I decided to use collages to create mine. To do this, I decided to create three separate mood boards: two focusing on the main characters and one on the Target scene in my film. After this, I went on Pinterest to find pictures that correlated with each of these 3 big aspects of my film opening. From that I designed picture collages that portray each one of these important parts of the story. 

Mood Boards: 

    Mood Boards function as a visual shorthand to demonstrate the aesthetic guidance and emotional "vibe" of a project before the actual designing and filming starts. They allow people to position lighting, textures, and colors into a unified vision, guaranteeing that everyone involved in the creation of the film is on the same page. 

Sophia - Main Character

Sophia's Mood Board: 

    For Sophia's character, I want her style to mirror a lived-in, natural genuineness that focus on comfort over polished perfection. By placing her in a contemporary, fast-paced environment, I have a chance to display her personality through the "cluttered-yet-cool" aesthetic shown in the mood board image. I want Sophia to embrace big, loose-fitting clothing such as graphic tees and comfy sweatpants, gravitating toward a neutral, warm palette that feels approachable and grounded. Rather than rigid or formal clothing, Sophia will lean into cozy qualities and functional layers that indicate she is constantly on the move or deep in an innovative project. 

    Regarding her daily routine and environment, I want Sophia's space to be a disorganized reflection of her functioning mind, packed with unfinished coffees, tangled charging cords, and open magazines. I want her makeup and hair to look natural and low-maintenance, usually styled in messy buns or with heatless hair rollers that indicates a "getting ready" process instead of a completed result. I plan to highlight her rebellious nature by illustrating her rejection of high-maintenance beauty stereotypes, possibly through a scene where she throws aside a designer heel for a more comfortable platform shoe. Her expressions should convey a sense of contemporary independence, concentrating on her reactions to the pressure of being "perfect" by deciding to embrace the beautiful chaos of her actual life.  

Asher - Main Character 

Asher's Mood Board: 

    To demonstrate Asher's character, I want his aesthetic to be interpreted by a sense of meticulous discipline and organized modernism By placing him in a high-powered environment, his clothing should mirror a "clean-cut" lifestyle through well-fitted basics such as neutral hoodies, crips white tees, and elevated streetwear. I want Asher to wear clothes that are functional yet thoughtfully selected, favoring a palette of whites, greys, and blacks rather than intense patterns or colors. His style will be elevated by detailed accessories, like high-tech headphones and silver watches, indicating a character who values both status and efficiency.  

    

    Regarding his personal routine, I want Asher's environment to be hyper-organized, highlighting meal-prepped food in containers and a perfectly organized room. His hair and grooming should match this precision, using high-end products and a clear, inflexible morning routine to sustain a polished appearance at all times. I want to display his character's motivation through visual details such as an iron for his clothes and a rigorously managed closet that has no room for clutter. His actions and expressions should convey a focused, apathetic demeanor, usually seen through his dedication to his self-care ritual and his highly-productive life. 

Setting - Target

Target's Mood Board: 

    For the Target location, I want the atmosphere to capture the vibrant, lively experience of modern retail therapy. By positioning a scene within these aisles, I can utilize the striking red branding and bright fluorescent lighting as a effective background for character interaction. I want the environment to feel familiar and romanticized, highlighting rows of arranged red shopping carts and the hectic movement of everyday shoppers. This location will serve as a center of modern lifestyle, packed with everything from from daily essentials to the spontaneous finds that define a casual outing. 

    I want the characters to have a edgy first encounter in the Lego aisle as they both reach for the last rare Lego set that is on the shelf. Asher, having scheduled his visit for this particular release will find his hand overlapping with Sophia's just as she spontaneously grabs for the same box. This encounter will emphasize their clashing personalities, as Asher's apathetic, calculated approach meets Sophia's impulsive and chaotic passion. Within the primary-colored shelves, this shared want for the same object forces them into an immediate confrontation, establishing their relationship in a relatable and fierce modern moment.  

Reflection: 

    Now that I have completed my mood boards, I have a clear idea of what I want my story to look like. The next task that I want to complete is my production timeline. This will help me paint a picture of what the next few weeks are going to look like. Doing this will also allow me to prioritize the tasks that are the most important while also eventually completing the least important tasks. 

Planning - Titles

     In a two-minute film opening, every detail counts—including the words on the screen. For my opening sequence, I wanted the titles to feel like a disturbance and more like a part of the visual landscape. In this post, I will be analyzing the specific fonts I've picked, the color schemes behind them, and exactly where they will appear on the screen in my film. 

Production Company: 

    The first title that will appear in my film opening is going to be "A WBHS Production." This is because opening with a production company acts as a professional "handshake," instantly motioning to the audience that the film is a reliable, deliberate project. It also delivers an essential psychological transition, authorizing the viewer to get comfortable and shift their focus from the real world to the theatrical experience. 

Director: 

    After the production company title is shown, then "Directed by Ava Bernal" is going to appear. This will establish who the direct creative authority is, signaling to the audience whose specific voice and vision guided the story. This sequence generates a progression from the house that financed the film to the artist who created it, building anticipation for the creative vision that is going to unfold. 

Lead Cast: 

    The next title's that will be shown in my film opening are "Staring Angelina Bernal" and "Starring Armani Angelopoulos," these are the names of the main actors. Exhibiting the main actors right after the director helps establish the human component of the story, connecting the director's vision to the faces that will embody the film's emotional core. This sequence also boosts audience investment, as head performers usually act as the main draw and the viewers' access point into the film's world. 

Writer: 

    After the title of the main actor's is shown, the next title to appear will be "Written by Ava Bernal." This is because positioning the writer's credit after the actors emphasizes the narrative foundation, notifying the audience that the characters they are about to see originated from a particular script. This transitions changes the focus from the "faces" of the film opening to its designer, embedding the performance within the written world before the story actually starts. 

Director of Photography: 

    Following the writer title, the next title that will appear is going to be "Director of Photography: Ava Bernal." Presenting the Director of Photography after the writer switches the focus from the script's narrative framework to the film's visual execution. This positioning recognizes the cinematographer as the person in charge of translating the written script into a visual feeling, motioning that the audience is now shifting from the "idea" of the story into its actual theatrical atmosphere. 

Producer: 

    Additionally, after the director of photography title appears, the next title that will be shown is "Produced by Ava Bernal." Positioning the producer's credit after the director of photography recognizes the operational backbone that made the visual objective of the film possible. It serves as a bridge between the technical creativity of the shoot and the overall organizational structure of the project, emphasizing the person who secured the resources that brought the specific narrative to life. 

Editor: 

    The next title to appear will be "Edited by Ava Bernal." Placing the editor after the producer acknowledges the switch from the logistics of production to the ultimate assembly of the film's story. It emphasizes the "second director" who takes the original footage and shapes the rhythm, timing, and emotional flow into a strong theatrical experience. 

Name of Film: 

    Finally, the last title that will appear is going to be the name of my film, "The Perfect Mismatch." Placing the film title last serves as the narrative playoff, letting go of the suspense that was build up by the previous credits and the atmospheric footage. It acts as a final "point of no return," guaranteeing the audience is fully engaged in the mood of the world before the title card ultimately seals the experience. 

For all of the title's, I will be utilizing the Arial (Narrow Bold) font and the color of the font will be Lavender. 

Reflection: 

    Overall, these titles represent the collective heartbeat of the two-minute film opening. While each name conveys a specific responsibility they all work in unison to construct a world where love (as well as a tiny bit of chaos) can blossom. By the time the last credit for the film's title dwindles, the audience should already feel like they know the characters and the capricious world they live in. The next task that I want to complete in this planning process is creating mood boards that express the world of my film.  

Planning - Cast Sheets

     Since I already created the first draft of my script, I decided to find a female and male actor to portray the characters in my film opening. Focusing on picking characters before choosing which location, props, and clothing I want to utilize will help me understand their personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. This is a critical step that provides a secure foundation for all upcoming creative decisions. Once I know and decide who my characters are, it will be much easier to determine what kinds of environments they would live in, what they would wear, and which props they would interact with. 

    Unfortunately, I do not know anyone who has any prior experience in acting. Also, I know that it is a big responsibility to take on these positions so I wanted to choose two people who I knew were reliable but also who I thought could successfully play the part. Due to this, I decided to evaluate my options within my family and friends. After careful consideration, I asked my sister and her boyfriend if they would like to and would be able to be the characters Sophia and Asher. They both said yes, making them my official cast. I think they will be a perfect fit for the roles because they already have a connection so it will be easily transmitted onto the camera. Since the film opening will have no dialogue, the pressure to deliver lines naturally is taken away. Instead, the focus will fully be on facial expressions and physical storytelling.  

Sophia's Actress - Angelina Bernal 

Asher's Actor - Armani Angelopoulos

    After casting my actors, the next step with them is to go over the script and ensure that they understand their character's role in the film. This is something new to all of us so I also want to practice filming each scene. This will help me identify any struggles they have so that I can try to work with them to fix it before the actual production process starts. Doing this will make the filming day run as smooth and simple as possible. Another thing that I will go over with them is how I want the characters in the film to be presented and what locations we will be utilizing. 

    I am excited to have finalized the actors for the characters in my film and to have completed their casting sheets. This is a crucial part in the planning process of my film opening because characters serve as the viewers emotional foundation, transforming a series of events into a relatable story that viewers truly want to follow. I think with each task that I am completing in this part of my journey, I am slowly getting myself on the right track. It was extremely helpful to choose characters because now I can dive deeper into the clothing and props that fit with their established dynamic, allowing me to use set design and costumes to tell a detailed story about their opposite personalities and first interaction that leads to romance. 

Planning - Script

     To start my planning process, the first task that I want to complete is the writing of my script. I want to start with this because the script will be my strategic foundation for my film opening, leading me to decide what characters, setting, and props I want to utilize. Kicking off with a script ensures that my "vision" translates into something that other people can literally see and hear come to life. To do this, I decided to write my script on a Word document so that it can be organized but also easily accessible. 

The First Draft of my Script:

    Although this is the first draft of my script, I think it accurately represents the story that I want my characters to experience. I think the biggest challenge I had when writing the script was taking a leap of faith in writing a narrative that I hadn't visually and physically seen come to life yet. As of right now, the story only exists in my imagination which concerns me because I don't know if everything will translate  effectively to the screen once I start filming. Another struggle I had was making sure the opening scenes can capture the audience's attention and interest immediately, creating a captivating reason to continue watching. To accomplish this, I had to find a balance between clarity and suspense; giving the viewer sufficient information to immerse them into the reality of the scene, while holding back just enough information to generate a 'craving' that only the rest of the film can satisfy. 

    Despite it being a film opening, I still wanted to ensure I established that it is a romantic comedy. While I plan on using the typical colors, clothing, and music that are seen in a rom-com, I wanted to have the first interaction between my characters to be in a creative and unique way. Because of this, I decided to use a meet-cute where both characters reach for the same last item on a shelf. This creates immediate friction and a close physical proximity. It also hints at how the rest of the story is going to play out. 

    Since this is only the first draft of my script, I think it will be very important to show and share this with my friends/classmates so that they can tell me what their opinion is. This will help me revise my story to better fit the conventions of a romantic comedy as well as a film opening, if needed. 

    Overall, I am excited to see my two-minute film opening come to life. However, I still have a lot more tasks to complete before I can start the production process. The next task that I plan on completing is my casting sheets. Choosing my characters will help me decide on the clothing and props that I want to use. 

Planning - Project Proposal

     Now that I have concluded all of my research, I am so excited to dive into the planning of my film opening. Although, this is an important and difficult task, I have decided to work by myself in creating my two-minute film opening. For my genre, I chose to do a romantic comedy. I made this decision because I wanted to create something that I would watch and enjoy but also something that I know would catch other people's interest. I love how romantic comedies give me a sense of comfort, predictability, and escapism. I want to create a story that is similar to movies that I have previously watched and enjoyed so I decided to make a list of a few. A couple of movies that I am taking inspiration from are Your Place or Mine, Love at First Sight, and People We Meet on Vacation. 

Story Elements: 

    In terms of target audience, I want to create a story that all types of people enjoy. However, I understand that everyone has different preferences and people might not have any interest in watching a romantic comedy. I also know that no matter what genre I pick or film I create, it is impossible to please everybody at one time. So, my main target audience is teen girls to mid-aged women who love watching a meet-cute story with a little bit of laughter. I plan to make the female main character be a chaotic mess (messy room, disorganized closet, over sleeper) while the male main character is hyper-organized (color-coded closet, awake early, minimalist room). I hope this appeals to teenage girls and middle aged women as characters that they can relate to, with half of the audience feeling seen by the females chaotic energy while the other half of the audience feels seen by the males need for control. This film will be taking place in present day America, making the scenario instantly understandable and emotionally resonant, enabling the target audience to insert themselves into the story and the core relationship.  

    In terms of social issues, since my film is going to be based in present day, people are used to socializing and meeting people through dating apps or on social media platforms. This takes away from the emotional presence and sense of fate that comes with a random in person encounter. Because of this, I decided to deviate from the norm by creating a film opening that involves two completely different characters randomly crossing paths, eventually leading to their happy love story ending. In a one-on-one human experience, you get to fully see the other persons body language and hear their voice, making the interaction feel more special and unique. 

Technological Elements: 

    Unfortunately, I do not have any experience using different camera's and editing software's. So, instead of learning how to work high-tech camera's and editing software's which will give me added stress and pressure, I am going to utilize my iPhone video camera and Adobe Premiere Pro. Using the video camera on my phone will allow me to film, review, and easily transfer clips to my computer to edit which will allow me to quickly fix or reshoot a clip instantly. Not only is an iPhone considered one of the best mobile devices for video quality, I can also change the camera settings on my phone to help bring my film to life. In terms of editing, my school provides Adobe Premier Pro for all students. This is very beneficial, and I plan to use this software to edit my film opening. This will give me access to different editing options such as effects, coloring, and the overall cutting and layering clips together. 

    Although I am pretty knowledgeable in using the video camera on my iPhone, I am not very confident or familiar in using Adobe Premiere Pro. I used it once in my Media Studies class, which gave me a little bit of insight into how it functions, but I still don't feel like I learned everything that I need to be successful, nor do I remember a lot of what I did learn because I only used it one time, which was a couple months ago. Because of this, I want to spend time watching videos online and talking to my classmates so that I can better understand how to utilize this software. Once I start the production process of my film opening, it will be even more important for me to watch specific tutorials and videos on how to combine certain camera shots and apply the editing techniques that I will be using. 

My Plan: 

    While I have spent a lot of time conducting research, there is still a lot of things that I have to do in preparation to efficiently create this film. In the next few weeks, I have to create my storyboard, finalize my script, and choose my title, setting and props. Splitting up my tasks into weeks has been very helpful, so I am going to continue doing that. 

    It is important for me to decide the personality traits of my main characters, such as how they act and their likes and dislikes, so that I can figure out which setting, clothing, props, music, etc. to use in my film. 

    Regarding practice exercises, I plan on meeting individually with the main actors to explain their characters' personalities and the film's story, which will give them insight into how to better accomplish their task. I also plan on practicing certain camera shots, movements, and angles so that I can decide on which ones will work best to enhance my film. This practice will also help me on filming day because I will know exactly how and when to use them. Lastly, I am going to reference my past research about typical sounds in a rom-com so that I can find the sound effects and music that I want to utilize in my film. 

    Although the next couple of weeks are going to be busy and a lot of work, I am very excited to be in the planning part of this project and I can't wait to start the production of my film.